Tennessee has taken steps to increase security at National Guard armories and facilities.
Tennessee’s Adjutant General Major Max Haston announced Thursday that Army and Air National Guard members with a valid concealed carry permit will be permitted to carry at state facilities for protection.
This decision comes 3 weeks after a shooting incident at a Chattanooga U.S. Naval and Marine Reserve Center facility that left four Marines and one sailor dead.
Seven other states have also increased security measures for National Guard service members as a result of the horrific event.
After the shooting, outcry from the public and military community raised questions as to why members of Army and Air National Guard were required to work without adequate protection. Shooting events in recent years have demonstrated that military personnel and properties have been a target.
Members working at federally run recruitment centers in Tennessee will be permitted to carry federally issued firearms after being properly trained and qualified. Federal law prohibits the possession of a personal firearm on the property.
At state-owned facilities, members will be permitted to carry privately-owned firearms with a valid concealed carry permit. Guard members without a permit will receive expedited applications and a lowered fee to speed the process.
The increased security at Tennessee armories and facilities will hopefully deter future violent attacks and show other types of businesses that armed employees can positively contribute to safety.
